Churn



July 22, 1941. J. w. UMSfEAD CHURN Filed May 23, 1940 HIHHIIH Attorney Patented July 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHURN Jacob W. Umstead, New Bethlehem, Pa.

Application May 23, 1940, Serial No. 336,845

1 Claim.

This invention relates to churns, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will employ in its construction an ordinary milk can used by a dairyman and farmers for the storage and shipment of milk and a power driven attachment or agitator including a cover similar in construction to the ordinary milk can cover which may be readily adapted to a milk can and thereby convert the latter into an eflicient and economical churn and one which may be operated at a low cost and easily maintained in a sanitary condition.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view illustrating a churn constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the power means and the support thereof on a cover.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a milk can of a conventional construction frequently found in use by dairymen, farmers and like persons engaged in the handling and shipment of milk. In order to convert the milk can 5 into a practical and efficient churn for the making of butter, the present invention is adapted thereto and consists of a cover 6 constructed similar to the conventional type of cover employed for the closing of the can 5. The cover 6 is provided in the top wall thereof with a slot 1 through which an agitator shaft 8 may extend. The agitator shaft has secured to its lower end a propeller 9 and its upper end is provided with a coupling ID.

A supporting bracket II is adjustably mounted on the top wall of the can and has adjustably secured thereto an electric motor l2, the shaft of which has the agitator shaft 8 connected thereto by the coupler Ill.

The supporting bracket ll includes a pair of L-shaped members I3 connected by a connecting portion M which will provide a handle for lifting and carrying the device and for adapting and removing the same to the can. The connecting portion forms an integral part of the L-shaped members l3 and the latter in their horizontal portions are provided with slots to receive bolts l5 equipped with wing nuts [6 whereby the supporting bracket may be adjusted longitudinally on the cover 6. The vertical portions of the L-shaped members [3 are provided with slots to receive bolts or like fasteners I! for adjustably mounting the motor on the bracket. This will permit the motor to be adjusted vertically for the purpose of varying the distance of the agitator 9 from the bottom of the can. The supporting bracket l3 being adjustable longitudinally on the cover will permit longitudinal adjustment of the agitator shaft for varying the location of the agitator laterally of the vertical axis of the can sides.

In use, it has been found more preferable to have the agitator 9 located off-center from the vertical axis of the can.

It is preferable that the electric motor I2 be of the high speed type so that the agitator or propeller 9 will be driven at a high rate of speed to bring about efiicient, thorough and quick agitation of the cream to bring about making of butter within a comparatively short period of time. When the propeller 9 is in operation the cream is thrown outwardly to the sides of the can and rises vertically and is taken down centrally of the can. This movement of the cream under the influence of the rapidly rotating propeller produces butter efliciently and rapidly.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be seen that the present invention can be easily adapted to a conventional milk can for producing an efiicient chum and may be readily removed and replaced on a similar can when butter is to be made in large quantities. Further it is to be seen that through the use of a conventional milk can with the present invention to produce a churn all of the various parts are so arranged that cleaning can be easily carried out tokeep the device in a sanitary condition.

In the manufacture and sale of this invention it is to be understood that the cover, bracket and motor and agitator may be sold as a complete unit ready to be adapted to a conventional can or the can may also be sold along with the present invention if so desired.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a mounting, an inverted substantially U- shaped bracket providing parallel vertical and horizontal portions and a connecting portion, said vertical portions having slots extending endwise,

thereof to receive fasteners for adjustably se- 

